Cable Connector

Abstract

The cable connector (100) includes a cable (104) having a wire pair (118) and contacts (106) as a contact pair (108). The contacts of the contact pair may be simultaneously crimped to corresponding wires (110) using a crimping tool. A pair holder (142) holds the contact pair with an overmolded body (144) molded around a support base (120) for the contacts of the contact pair to fix the relative positions of the contacts. The cable connector includes a pair shield (180) having a shield element (186) forming a shield pocket (188) that receives the wire pair, the contact pair, and the pair holder. The cable connector includes a retainer (170) having a retainer cavity (176) that receives the wire pair and the pair shield. The retainer includes a contact support portion (162) that supports the pair holder and the contact pair. The cable connector includes an outer shell (150) having an outer shell cavity (156) that receives the retainer and provides electrical shielding for the contact pair.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The subject matter of this specification generally relates to cable connectors.

Background Art

[0002] Cable connectors are used in a number of applications such as military and aerospace applications. For example, a cable connector may include differential pair contacts that are terminated at the ends of twisted wire pairs. Known cable connectors include those known as quadrax connectors having four differential pairs of contacts arranged in different quadrants of the cable connector. A cable connector includes an outer shell that provides a shield for the contact pairs. However, known cable connectors are not without disadvantages. By way of example, the assembly of cable connectors is time consuming. For example, each of the contacts is crimped separately to the corresponding wire. In addition, each of the wires and contacts is individually inserted into a retainer that holds the relative position of the contacts within the outer shell of the cable connector. This crimping and assembly is time consuming.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] There is still a need for cable connectors that can be manufactured and assembled in an economical and reliable manner.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] A solution is provided by a cable connector including a cable having wires arranged as a wire pair, contacts arranged as contact pairs each including a support base between the cable and a termination end terminated to a corresponding wire of the wire pair, and a pair holder holding the corresponding contact pairs. Each pair holder has an overmolded body molded around the support base of the contacts of the corresponding contact pair. The overmolded body is manufactured from a dielectric material. The pair holder fixes the relative positions of the contacts in the corresponding contact pair. The termination end extends rearward from the overmolded body for termination to the wire. The cable connector includes a pair shield having a shield element forming a shield pocket for receiving corresponding wire pairs, contact pairs, and pair holders. The shield element provides a shield between the contact pairs. The cable connector includes a retainer extending between a front portion and a rear portion. The retainer has a retainer cavity opening at the rear portion for receiving the wire pairs and the pair shield. The retainer includes a contact support at the front portion for supporting the pair holders and the contact pairs. The cable connector includes an outer shell extending between a front portion and a rear portion. The outer shell has an outer shell cavity opening at the rear portion for receiving the retainer. The outer shell is conductive and provides an electrical shield around the contact pairs.

[0005] Next, the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006]

Figure 1

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In one embodiment, there is provided a cable connector including contact pairs each including a support base between a cable having wires arranged as a wire pair and a termination end terminated to a corresponding wire of the cable, contacts arranged as contact pairs, and a pair holder for holding the corresponding contact pairs. Each pair holder has an overmolded body molded around the support base of the contacts of the corresponding contact pair. The overmolded body is manufactured from a dielectric material. The pair holder fixes the relative positions of the contacts in the corresponding contact pair. The termination end extends rearward from the overmolded body for termination to the wire. The cable connector includes a pair shield having a shield element forming a shield pocket for receiving the corresponding wire pair, contact pair, and pair holder. The shield element provides a shield between the contact pairs. The cable connector includes a retainer extending between a front portion and a rear portion. The retainer has a retainer cavity opening at the rear portion for receiving the wire pair and the pair shield. The retainer includes a contact support portion at the front portion for supporting the pair holder and the contact pairs. The cable connector includes an outer shell extending between a front portion and a rear portion. The outer shell has an outer shell cavity opening at the rear portion for receiving the retainer. The outer shell is conductive and provides an electrical shield around the contact pairs.

[0008] In another embodiment, there is provided a cable connector including contacts arranged as contact pairs, each including a support base between a cable having wires arranged as a wire pair and a termination end having a crimp barrel crimped to a corresponding wire of the contact. The cable connector includes a pair holder that holds a corresponding contact pair. Each pair holder has an overmolded body molded around the support bases of both contacts of the corresponding contact pair. The overmolded body is manufactured from a dielectric material. The pair holder fixes the relative positions of the contacts in the corresponding contact pair. The termination end extends rearward from the overmolded body for termination to the wires. The mating end extends forward of the overmolded body for mating to a mating contact of a mating connector. Each overmolded body includes a positioning surface configured to engage a retainer to position each of the pair holders relative to one another within the retainer.

[0009] In another embodiment, there is provided a method of manufacturing a cable connector including overmolding a pair holder around the support bases of a contact pair of contacts such that a mating end of the contact extends forward of the pair holder and a termination end of the contact having a crimp barrel extends rearward of the pair holder. The pair holder fixes the relative positions of the contacts of the corresponding contact pair. Each overmolded pair holder and contact pair defines a contact assembly. The method includes simultaneously crimping the crimp barrels of both contacts of the corresponding contact assembly to the wires of the corresponding wire pair to form a pair assembly. The method includes inserting a pair shield between the wire pair within a retainer to provide an electrical shield between the pair assemblies. The method includes loading each pair assembly into a retainer such that a pair holder engages the retainer to position each contact assembly relative to one another. The method includes loading the retainer, pair shield, and pair assembly into a cavity of an outer shell to provide an electrical shield around the pair assembly.

[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a communication system 10 according to an exemplary embodiment and shows a first cable connector 100 configured to be attached to a second cable connector 200. The first cable connector 100 includes a connector 102 provided at an end of a cable 104. The connector 102 includes a plurality of contacts 106 arranged as contact pairs 108. The second cable connector 200 includes a connector 202 provided at an end of a cable 204. The connector 202 includes a plurality of contacts 206 arranged as contact pairs 208. The contacts 206 are configured to be attached to corresponding contacts 106. In the illustrated embodiment, the contacts 206 are socket contacts and the contacts 106 are pin contacts, but in alternative embodiments, other types of contacts may be used.

[0011] In an exemplary embodiment, the connectors 102, 202 are quadrax connectors each including four contact pairs 108, 208. The contact pairs 108, 208 are arranged in a quadrant shape. In alternative embodiments having a greater or fewer number of contact pairs 108, 208, other types of connectors may be used. In the following description, reference is made to the first cable connector 100 and the components of the cable connector 100, but the second cable connector 200 may also include similar components and may be manufactured in a similar manner as described hereinafter with respect to the first cable connector 100.

[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates one of the contact pairs 108 of the contacts 106 according to an exemplary embodiment, and shows the wire 110 of the cable 104 (shown in FIG. 1) for the contact 106. Each wire 110 includes a conductor 112 and an insulator 114 surrounding the conductor 112. In various embodiments, the wire may be shielded with a wire shield around the insulator 114. In an exemplary embodiment, the wire 110 is mated over the length of the cable 104 and not mated at the ends for termination to the contact 106.

[0013] Each contact 106 includes a support base 120 between a mounting end 122 and a termination end 124. In an exemplary embodiment, the contact 106 is a punched and formed contact. The support base 120 is substantially flat and includes a pad 126 and a wing 128 extending from the pad 126. In various embodiments, the pad 126 may have a slight curvature, for example, for connection to the mounting end 122 and / or the termination end 124.

[0014] In an exemplary embodiment, the mounting end 122 is cylindrical. For example, the mounting end 122 may be formed by rolling the mounting end 122 of the contact 106 into a tube. In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting end 122 includes a pin 130, but in alternative embodiments, other types of mounting ends such as sockets may be provided. In various other embodiments, the mounting end 122 may have a shape other than cylindrical, such as a blade contact or a split beam contact.

[0015] In an exemplary embodiment, the termination end 124 has a curved shape. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the termination end 124 includes a crimp barrel 132 configured to be crimped to the conductor 112 and / or the insulator 114 of the wire 110. The crimp barrel 132 includes opposing crimp arms 134, 136 that can be folded over and crimped to the wire 110. In various embodiments, the crimp arms 134, 136 may form an F-crimp.

[0016] In an exemplary embodiment, the wing portion 128 that provides a large area to the support base 120 extends outwardly beyond the pin 130 and beyond the crimp barrel 132. In an exemplary embodiment, the pad 126 and the wing portion 128 of the support base 120 of the contact pair 108 are in the same plane as each other. Therefore, the pins 130 of the contact pair 108 may be aligned with each other, and the crimp barrels 132 of the contact pair 108 may also be aligned with each other. In an exemplary embodiment, the support base 120 of the contact pair 108 is configured to be overmolded by a dielectric to hold the relative positions of both contacts 106 of the contact pair 108.

[0017] FIG. 3 illustrates a pair assembly 140 of the cable connector 100 (shown in FIG. 1). The pair assembly 140 includes contact pairs 108 of contacts 106, wire pairs 118 of wires 110, and a pair holder 142 used to hold the contact pairs 108. During assembly, the contacts 106 of the contact pairs 108 are overmolded by an overmolded body 144 that forms the pair holder 142. The overmolded body 144 is manufactured from a dielectric material such as a plastic material. The overmolded body 144 is formed around the support base 120 of the contact 106. For example, the overmolded body 144 is formed in a fixed position on the support base 120 to hold the contacts 106 together as a single unit. The pair holder 142 holds the relative positions of the contacts 106. The pair holder 142 and the contact pairs 108 of the contacts 106 together define a contact assembly 146. The contact assembly 146 and the wire pairs 118 of the wires 110 together define the pair assembly 140.

[0018] In an exemplary embodiment, the overmolded body 144 completely surrounds the support base 120 such as the pad 126 and the wing portion 128. The overmolded body 144 is formed along both the upper, lower, and side portions of the support base 120. The overmolded body 144 fills the space between the support bases 120 of the contact pair 108. In an exemplary embodiment, the mounting end 122 extends in front of the pair holder 142, and the termination end 124 extends behind the pair holder 142. Therefore, the pin 130 is exposed in front of the pair holder 142 for mounting to the contact 206 (both shown in FIG. 1) of the cable connector 200, and the crimp barrel 132 is exposed behind the pair holder 142 for crimping to the wire 110. In an exemplary embodiment, both contacts 106 are positioned relative to each other by the pair holder 142 in order to simultaneously crimp the crimp barrel 132 to the wire 110, thereby reducing the overall crimping time (e.g., reducing the crimping time by half).

[0019] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the pair assembly 140 with respect to the crimping tool 300 used to crimp the contact 106 to the wire 110. The crimping tool 300 includes an anvil 302 and a crimper 304. The crimper 304 and / or the anvil 302 are moved towards each other during the crimping stroke for crimping the contact 106 to the wire 110. For example, the anvil 302 and the crimper 304 may be coupled to the handle of a hand tool used to press both the anvil 302 and the crimper 304 together during the crimping process. In various other embodiments, a crimping machine such as a press may be used to move the crimper 304 and / or the anvil 302. The crimper 304 forms the crimping arms 134, 136 of the crimp barrel 132 around the conductor 112 of the wire 110. In an exemplary embodiment, the crimping tool 300 is a dual crimper used to simultaneously crimp both contacts 106 in a pair to the corresponding wires 110. For example, the same crimping stroke is used to crimp both crimp barrels 132 around the conductor 112 of the wire 110.

[0020] The anvil 302 includes a first pedestal 306 and a second pedestal 308. The first pedestal 306 and the second pedestal 308 may be provided at the top of the anvil 302. The first pedestal 306 receives and supports the first contact 106a during the crimping process, and the second pedestal 308 receives and supports the second contact 106b during the crimping process. The first pedestal 306 and the second pedestal 308 may have an outer shape such as to form a crimp barrel 132 around the conductor 112 of the wire 110 during the crimping process. In an exemplary embodiment, the anvil 302 includes a positioning wall 310 used to position the crimp barrel 132 of the contact 106 with respect to the first pedestal 306 and the second pedestal 308. Optionally, one of the positioning walls 310 may be disposed between the first pedestal 306 and the second pedestal 308.

[0021] The crimper 304 includes a body 312 having a crimping end 314 facing the anvil 302. The crimping end 314 may be provided at the bottom of the crimper 304. The crimper 304 includes a first crimp pocket 316 at the crimping end 314 and a second crimp pocket 318 at the crimping end 314. The first crimp pocket 316 receives the first contact 106a and has a crimp profile used to form a crimp barrel 132 around the conductor 112 of the wire 110. The second crimp pocket 318 receives the second contact 106b and has a crimp profile used to form a crimp barrel 132 around the conductor 112 of the wire 110.

[0022] The overmolded body 144 forming the pair holder 142 holds the relative positions of the contacts 106 of the contact pair 108. For example, the overmolded body 144 fixes the crimp barrels 132 relative to each other to position the contacts 106 in the crimping tool 300. The overmolded body 144 aligns the crimp barrels 132 with the crimp pockets 316, 318 in the pedestals 306, 308 and the anvil 302 and the crimper 304. Thus, both crimp barrels 132 of the contacts 106 may be crimped simultaneously by the crimping tool 300. The pair holder 142 omits the process of individually crimping each contact 106 to its respective wire 110, reducing the manufacturing time.

[0023] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a cable connector 100 according to an exemplary embodiment. In the exemplary embodiment, the cable connector 100 includes four pair assemblies 140 that define a quadrax cable connector, although in alternative embodiments, the cable connector 100 may include more or fewer pair assemblies 140. The cable connector 100 further includes an outer shell 150, a ferrule 160, a retainer 170, and a pair shield 180. The outer shell 150 receives the pair assemblies 140, the ferrule 160, the retainer 170, and the pair shield 180.

[0024] In the exemplary embodiment, the outer shell 150 extends between a front portion 152 and a rear portion 154. The outer shell 150 includes an outer shell cavity 156 between the front portion 152 and the rear portion 154. In the exemplary embodiment, the outer shell 150 is generally cylindrical. The outer shell 150 may be manufactured from a conductive material to provide an electrical shield for the contacts 106 of the pair assemblies 140. Optionally, the outer shell 150 may be threaded. However, in alternative embodiments, the outer shell 150 may be manufactured by other processes such as die casting or stamped parts. In an exemplary embodiment, the outer shell 150 includes a flange 158 around the outer shell 150 that is, for example, substantially centered between a front portion 152 and a rear portion 154. The outer shell 150 receives a ferrule 160, a retainer 170, and a pair shield 180 in an outer shell cavity 156 through the rear portion 154. The outer shell 150 is coupled to a cable connector 200 at the front portion 152. Optionally, the outer shell cavity 156 may receive a portion of the cable connector 200 through the front portion 152. For example, a front side portion of the outer shell cavity 156 may define a mounting cavity configured to receive a mounting end of the cable connector 200.

[0025] The ferrule 160 is configured to be coupled to a cable 104 (shown in FIG. 1). For example, an end of the cable shield of the cable 104 may be folded around a front portion of the ferrule 160 to provide a mechanical and electrical connection between the cable 104 and the connector 102. In various embodiments, a rear portion 154 of the outer shell 150 may be crimped to the ferrule 160 to form an electrical connection between the cable shield and the outer shell 150.

[0026] The retainer 170 extends between a front portion 172 and a rear portion 174. The retainer 170 includes a retainer cavity 176 that receives the pair shield 180 and the wire 110. For example, the retainer cavity 176 may open at the rear portion 174 to receive the wire 110 and the pair shield 180. In an exemplary embodiment, the wire 110 is supplied through the cavity 156 before the contact assembly 146 is crimped to the wire 110. In various embodiments, the retainer cavity 176 is hollow or open to receive the pair shield 180 and the wire 110. Alternatively, the retainer cavity 176 may have a shape corresponding to the pair shield 180 and the wire 110. For example, the retainer cavity 176 may include individual wire channels for receiving the wire 110 and a shield cavity for receiving the pair shield 180.

[0027] In an exemplary embodiment, the retainer 170 includes a contact support portion 162 at the front portion 172. The contact support portion 162 includes a platform 164 for receiving and supporting the corresponding pair holder 142. For example, the platform 164 may have a shape complementary to the pair holder 142 for receiving and supporting the pair holder 142. Optionally, the platform 164 may be separated from each other by a separating wall used to position and separate the pair holders 142 relative to each other. In an exemplary embodiment, the retainer 170 includes a positioning wall 166 for positioning the pair holder 142 relative to the retainer 170. In the illustrated embodiment, the positioning wall 166 is a front-facing end portion configured to engage the trailing edge of the pair holder 142 and position the trailing edge. In alternative embodiments, other positioning walls 166 may be provided.

[0028] The pair shield 180 extends between a front portion 182 and a rear portion 184. The pair shield 180 includes shield elements 186 that define shield pockets 188. Each shield pocket 188 is configured to receive a corresponding pair assembly 140. In an exemplary embodiment, the shield elements 186 form quarter circles, and each quarter circle has a corresponding shield pocket 188. For example, the pair shield 180 may be cross-shaped. In alternative embodiments, the shield elements 186 may have other shapes. In an exemplary embodiment, the pair holder 142 is configured to engage the shield element 186 to position the contact 106 relative to the pair shield 180. For example, each pair holder 142 may engage two of the shield elements 186 to position the contact 106 in the corresponding shield pocket 188. In an exemplary embodiment, the pair shield 180 includes positioning fins 190 extending from the shield elements 186. The positioning fins 190 are used to position the pair shield 180 relative to the retainer 170. For example, the positioning fins 190 may be received in the retainer cavity 176 and engage a surface or shoulder within the retainer 170 to position the pair shield 180 axially and / or rotationally relative to the retainer 170.

[0029] FIG. 6 is a partial assembly view of the cable connector 100 according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 6 illustrates the pair assembly 140 coupled to the retainer 170. FIG. 6 illustrates the pair shield 180 coupled to the retainer 170. The pair shield 180 provides an electrical shield for each of the pair assemblies 140. For example, the shield element 186 provides an electrical shield between each of the pair assemblies 140. The pair holder 142 is received in the corresponding shield pocket 188. The wire 110 is received in the corresponding shield pocket 188 to provide an electrical shield between the wire pairs 118.

[0030] The pair holder 142, when assembled, is coupled to the contact support 162 of the retainer 170. Each pair holder 142 holds both contacts 106 of the corresponding contact pair 108 together as a single unit such that both contacts 106 can be inserted and coupled to the retainer 170 simultaneously. The pair holder 142 eliminates the process of individually inserting each contact into the retainer 170, reducing the assembly time (e.g., reducing the insertion time by half). The platform 164 supports the corresponding pair holder 142. For example, the platform 164 holds the radial position of the pair holder 142 relative to the retainer 170. In an exemplary embodiment, the pair holder 142 engages a positioning wall 166 to position the pair holder 142 relative to the retainer 170. For example, the positioning wall 166 is disposed immediately behind the pair holder 142 and is used to axially position the pair assembly 140 relative to the retainer 170. The positioning wall 166 prevents the pair assembly 140 from moving rearward relative to the retainer 170. The pin 130 of the contact 106 extends forward of the pair holder 142 and forward of the retainer 170 for attachment to the second cable connector 200 (shown in FIG. 1).

[0031] An assembly including the retainer 170, the pair shield 180, and the pair assembly 140 is configured to be inserted into the outer shell cavity 156 (shown in FIG. 5). In an exemplary embodiment, the retainer 170 includes a positioning shoulder 178 for positioning the retainer 170 within the outer shell 150. In the illustrated embodiment, the positioning shoulder 178 extends circumferentially around the retainer 170. In alternative embodiments, other types of positioning mechanisms may be used.

[0032] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the cable connector 100 according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 7 illustrates the pair assembly 140 relative to the retainer 170 and the outer shell 150. The pair holder 142 is used to position the corresponding contact pair 108 relative to the retainer 170 and the outer shell 150. When assembled, the pair holder 142 is supported by the platform 164 of the contact support 162. In an exemplary embodiment, the outer surface of the pair holder 142 engages the inner surface of the outer shell 150. The outer shell 150 is used to position the pair holder 142 within the outer shell cavity 156. The contacts 106 of each contact pair 108 have fixed positions and spacing relative to each other (maintained by the pair holder 142), which corresponds to the spacing of the contacts 206 of the contact pair 208 of the second cable connector 200 (shown in FIG. 1). Optionally, the pair holder 142 may have some amount of float (e.g., a small gap) between the outer shell 150 and the platform 164 of the contact support 162 to adjust the alignment of the contact pair 108 and the contact pair 208 of the second cable connector 200 during mating. The pair shield 180 provides an electrical shield between the contact pairs 108. The outer shell 150 provides an electrical shield around the contact pairs 108.

Claims

1. A cable connector (100), comprising: - A cable (104) having wires (110) arranged as a wire pair (118); - A plurality of contacts (106) arranged as a contact pair (108), each contact (106) including a support base (120) between a mounting end (122) and a termination end (124), and the termination end (124) being terminated to a corresponding wire (110); - A plurality of pair holders (142) for holding the corresponding contact pairs (108), each pair holder (142) having an overmolded body (144) formed around the support base (120) of the contacts (106) of the corresponding contact pair (108), the overmolded body (144) being made of a dielectric material, the pair holder (142) fixing the relative positions of the contacts (106) in the corresponding contact pair (108), and the termination end (124) extending rearward from the overmolded body (144) for termination to the wire (110); - A pair shield (180) having a shield element forming a shield pocket (188), the shield pocket (188) receiving the corresponding wire pair (118), contact pair (108), and pair holder (142), and the shield element (186) providing a shield between the contact pairs (108); - A retainer (170) extending between a front portion (172) and a rear portion (174), the retainer (170) having a retainer cavity (176) opening at the rear portion (174) for receiving the wire pair (118) and the pair shield (180), and the retainer (170) including a contact support portion (162) at the front portion (172) for supporting the pair holder (142) and the contact pair (108). - An outer shell (150) extending between a front portion (152) and a rear portion (154), the outer shell having an outer shell cavity (156) opening at the rear portion for receiving the retainer, the outer shell being conductive and providing an electrical shield for the contact pair (108), an outer shell (150); A cable connector (100) comprising. **Claim 2** Both of the contacts (106) of the contact pair (108) are simultaneously inserted into the retainer (170) together with the pair holder (142). The cable connector (100) according to claim 1. **Claim 3** The overmolded body (144) includes an outer surface that engages a contact support portion (162) of the retainer (170) to position the contact (106) relative to the retainer (170). The cable connector (100) according to claim 1. **Claim 4** The overmolded body (144) extends between a front portion and a rear portion. The mounting end portion (122) of the contact (106) extends in front of the front portion of the overmolded body (144). At least one of the front portion or the rear portion of the overmolded body (144) engages a positioning wall of the retainer (170) to axially position the pair holder (142) relative to the retainer (170). The cable connector (100) of claim 1. **Claim 5** The overmolded body (144) holds the relative position of the termination end portion (124) of the contact (106) for terminating to the wire (110) of the termination end portion (124). The cable connector (100) according to claim 1. **Claim 6** The termination end portions (124) of both of the contacts (106) of the contact pair (108) are simultaneously terminated to the wires (110) of the corresponding wire pair (118). The cable connector (100) according to claim 1. **Claim 7** The termination end portion (124) of the contact (106) includes a crimp barrel (132) behind the pair holder (142). The overmolded body (144) holds the crimp barrels (132) against each other for simultaneously crimping the crimp barrels (132) to the corresponding wires (110). The cable connector (100) according to claim 1. **Claim 8** The support base (120) of the contact (106) includes a substantially flat pad (126), The overmolded body (144) holds the support base (120) on substantially the same plane, The cable connector (100) according to claim 1.

9. The contact (106) is a punched and formed contact, The punched and formed contact has a substantially flat support base (120), a substantially cylindrical mounting end portion (122) extending forward from the support base (120), and a substantially cylindrical termination end portion (124) extending rearward from the support base, The cable connector (100) according to claim 1.

10. The shield pocket (188) is arranged in a quarter circle, The cable connector (100) includes four wire pairs (118), four contact pairs (108), and four pair holders (142) received in corresponding quarter circles of the pair shield (180), The cable connector (100) according to claim 1.

11. A method of manufacturing a cable connector, The method includes: - Overmolding a pair holder around the support base of a contact pair composed of a plurality of contacts such that the mounting end portion of the contact extends forward of the pair holder and the termination end portion of the contact having a crimp barrel extends rearward of the pair holder, wherein the number of the contact pairs and the pair holders is plural, the pair holder fixes the relative positions of the contacts of the corresponding contact pair, and each overmolded pair holder and contact pair is overmolded so as to define a contact assembly; - Simultaneously crimping the crimp barrels of the contacts of both of the corresponding contact assemblies to the wires of the corresponding wire pairs to form a pair assembly; - Loading a pair shield providing an electrical shield between the pair assemblies into a retainer between the wire pairs; - Loading each pair assembly into the retainer such that the pair holder engages the retainer to adjust the positions of the respective contact assemblies relative to each other; - Loading the retainer, the pair shield, and the pair assemblies into a cavity of an outer shell providing an electrical shield around the pair assemblies; A method of manufacturing a cable connector including

12. each pair of holders simultaneously loading the corresponding contacts into the retainer as a single unit The method according to claim 11.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising coupling the pair of holders to the retainer and the outer shell such that each pair of holders positions the mounting ends of both contacts of the corresponding contact assembly relative to the retainer and the outer shell for mounting to mating contacts of a mating connector. The method according to claim 11.

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